Page b GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE October, 1989

Changing military homophobia

by K. D. Mahnal

A new national organization, the Gay and Lesbian Military Freedom Project, was established in November 1988. The

Project has joined several other national organizations in the battle to end discrimination and harassment against

members of the U.S. Armed Forces on

the basis of sexual orientation or per-

ceived sexual orientation.

The Project views the Armed Forces as the largest tax-supported institution that requires the immediate discharge of service members or employees based simply on their sexual orientation. There are two major objectives of the Project.

The first of these is the rescission of the Department of Defense's "Policy on Homosexuality" (Directive 1332.14, Section 1 H) which states, "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. The presence in the military environment of persons who engage in homosexual conduct or who, by their statements, demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual conduct, seriously impairs the accomplishment of the military mis-

sion."

The second objective is the repeal of all Uniform Code of Military Justice laws that criminalize private, adult, consensual sexual activity of military members.

A major victory for the Project came on July 6 in a case involving Marine Captain Judy Meade, stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In a shocking reversal of a discharge recommendation, a Marine Corps Board of Review reinstated Meade, who had been court-martialed for her friendship with a civilian lesbian. Meade originally was charged with conduct unbecoming to an officer in allega-

tions that she engaged in homosexual

conduct. The military failed to present evidence of homosexual conduct, but refused to drop all legal proceedings against Meade.

The Marines pursued action against Meade on the basis that she had a "longterm, personal relationship with a known lesbian," that on one occasion she had slept "in the same bed with a known

$360,000 given to NGLTF

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has received a $360,000 bequest, the largest ever received in its 16-year history. The money was a gift of the late Harry R. Rowe, a psychiatrist who lived in Long Beach, Calif.

"Dr. Rowe had many gay patients and friends, and recognized how terribly important it is for gay people to have greater protection under law," said Wil-

liam McLane, executor of the Rowe estate. "He wanted to leave his assets to an organization that was committed to social change, one that has a proven record

Antone F. Feo

Clinical Psychologist

lesbian,” and that on one occasion she was "in the presence of" persons suspected to be lesbians.

Upon hearing the news of her reinstatement, Meade commented, "I cried all day. After sixteen months of hell, they tell you you're back in. It's such a release... They didn't think I would fight the charges. The sad truth is that anyone who is called in by the NIS (Naval Investigative Service) is presumed guilty. You've got to prove yourself innocent. Nobody should have to go through what went through."

I

The Project also arranged for Meade and three other military women to appear before the Defense Advisory Com-

mittee on Women in the Service

(DACOWITS). They testified on the scores of women investigated by the NIS in connection with the alleged lesbian activities at the Parris Island, South Carolina base and the impact of witch

hunts on both individuals and the military.

All the women

DACOWITS to pursue a more active encouraged role in stopping witch hunts against ser-

vicewomen rumored to be lesbians.

Meade spoke of her own battle with the military. "I have been under this investigation for over a year. The stress, mental torment and humiliation not only affected me, but affected my family. I've spend over $16,000 in legal expenses.”

Military counsel was offered to Meade, but she chose civilian counsel. "I hope these types of proceedings are looked into... the Marine Corp's few good women will be reduced to a few women," commented Meade.

The Meade case is one of numerous cases pursued by the armed services in

the last year. Many of the investigations advances from a man who then accuses are the result of a woman refusing sexual her of being a lesbian, or of a male subordinate apparently resenting taking orders from a woman.

Academy Midshipman Joseph Steffan, In another case, involving U.S. Naval the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund won the preliminary round in

of accomplishment. It was on that basis that he chose NGLTF."

Vaid also noted that bequests made in wills or through insurance policies, bonds, and stocks are simple vehicles for giving which all gay people should consider when planning their estates. “The Task Force and other gay and lesbian organizations urgently need adequate financial resources to carry on our struggle for equality and against discrimination. Bequests are an easy way for individuals to make a tremendous contribution to the fight against homophobia.”

Individuals wishing to name the Task Force in their wills are encouraged to write NGLTF, Deferred Giving Program, 1517 U St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. ▼

Ph.D.

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331-3399

a suit that charges the Academy with unconstitutional discrimination. Lambda started the legal action when the superintendent of the Academy separated Steffan from the institution less than two months before he was to graduate and receive his Naval commission, solely because he is gay.

In a major development, Judge Oliver Gasch of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied the Navy's motion to dismiss Steffan's suit. The judge ordered that the case go forward to examine the constitutionality of the regulations which openly ban lesbian or gay people from serving in the Navy.

Judge Gasch rejected the Navy's assertion that the court had no authority to review the matter. The judge ruled that if Steffan had been treated as alleged, then he had stated a valid claim under the Constitution. Judge Gasch also noted that, because of the Navy's attitude toward lesbians and gay men, it would have been futile for Steffan to pursue his case through the Navy's internal administrative review process.

Sandra J. Lowe, the Lambda staff at-

torney representing Steffan, was pleased with the preliminary victory. "This decision has implications far beyond this case... it indicates that the military will

no longer be allowed to force people to resign and then use the resignation to block them from going to court to challenge the constitutionality of being dismissed because of their sexual orientation," Lowe stated.

At the time of his forced separation, Steffan had an outstanding military and academic record and would have graduated in the top ten percent of his class. In response to the court's decision, Steffan stated, "I'm very heartened by the judge's decision and gratified that I will have my day in court. I know I still have a long way to go in my fight, but I remain confident that I will receive my commission in the Navy and be able to serve my country, regardless of my sexual orientation. I thank the many people and groups who have supported me up to this point and those who will continue to support me in the months and years ahead.” national effort to end military injustices The Project and Lambda are part of a

against lesbian and gay service members. Others involved in this struggle are the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Organization for Women, tional Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Women's Equity Action League, Na-

Force, the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, and Citizen Soldier.▼

Atlanta conference

Realization of a national lesbian con-

ference is one step closer.

On July 21-23, more than 160 lesbians gathered for a planning meeting at Portland State University which resulted in formation of an interim task committee that will begin the work necessary to make this conference a reality. The steering committee will begin to function in January of 1990.

The conference is scheduled for April bians will converge on that southeastern 24-28, 1991, in Atlanta. Conference planners anticipate that more than 5,000 lesmetropolis for workshops and plenary

sessions, as well as other related events which may occur concurrently, such as a business and trade exposition or a national lesbian softball tournament.

The meeting in Portland was the second such strategy session, following a first national meeting held on March 4-6, in Durham, N.C., on the campus of Duke University.

The Durham gathering was the result of nearly a year of smaller regional meetings where lesbians concerned about the lack of a focused lesbian agenda initiated the concept of a national lesbian conference.

The conference is set for 1991 to allow for maximum accessibility for all lesbians. Modifications to sites in Atlanta to create equal access for lesbians with disabilities will require time. Fund-raising activities by both the national planning body and regional organizations need time to effectively ensure that geographical distance will not be an excluding factor.

Conference planners also have expressed a commitment to make this conference accessible in all ways to lesbians who have previously been under-represented in such events. The steering com-

Step Store

ई

mittee structure approved by the planning group is reflected in the composition of the interim task committee, which includes 50 per cent lesbians of color, 20 per cent lesbians with disabilities, old lesbians, young lesbians,

Jewish lesbians and deaf lesbians, as well as representatives from the national office, Atlanta, and the West Coast.

Each task committee member also is expected to work on one of the following nine committees that are working to make the conference a reality: Program, Nurturance, Mobilization and Networking, Disability and Access, On-Site Planning, Media, Logistics, Fund-Raising, and Clearinghouse and Educational Action Network. In addition to constituency and committee representatives, seats on the larger steering committee also have been reserved for representatives from national organizations and from the ten regions into which the country has been divided.

The interim task committee was chosen in Portland with deliberate attention to these constituency criteria as well as regional and task-oriented considerations.

The members of the interim task committee, which will hold its first meeting Oct. 14-15, in Atlanta are Chrystos, Janet Spotted Eagle, Joyce Hunter, Carol Cohen, Michelle Crone, Susan Fuchs, Barb Bechdol, Mary Frances Platt, Kay Ostberg, Mandy Carter, Sadequa Bey, Ayofemi Folayan, Julie Nelson, M.P. Schildmeyer and Stephanie Jo Kent.

An interim national office is located in Albany, N.Y. For more information, write to NLC, Box 3057, Albany, NY 12203, or call (518) 463-1051.

Plans are under way to relocate the national office to Atlanta in the spring of 1990.

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